Coin-controlled apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. A. L. zr-:N'r

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 7, 1929- 4 Sheets-Sheet l Il. I l llll-.ILIII Nov. 18, 1930. A. L.. zENT 1,782,250

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS FiledrJan. '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4TTR/VEY Nov. 18, 1930. A. L. zz-:NT 1,782,250

com coNTRoLLEn APPARATUS Filed Jan. 7, 1929 4 sheets-sheet s Nov. 18,1930. A. L. zENT 1,782,250

COI N CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedNov. 18, 1930 .ABRAIM L. ZEN'JLOF DAYTON, OHIO COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUSApplication led January 7,1929. Serial No. 330,732.

This invention relates to a coin controlled apparatus and moreparticularly to a coin controlled vending machine.

One object of the invention is to provide b. such an apparatus having acoin chute adapted to receive coins of different values and having meansfor selectively controlling the operations of the article ejectors, orother parts to be operated, according to the value of the coin depositedin that chute. l p

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus havingmeans for preventing the operation of the parts to be operated whenthere is no coin in the chute or when certain types of coin substitutesare deposited in the chute.

A further object of the invention is toprovide such an apparatus inwhich the several selecting and controlling operations will be effectedby the manipulation of a single opera-ting device.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide such an apparatus havinga delivery device of suc-h a character that the articles tobe deliveredwill be prevented from bouncing out of the delivery receptacle when theyare discharged into the same.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is describedin detail..

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatusembodying my invention with the casing in section and partly brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

partly broken away,kand with the casingv in :55 section; Fig. 3 is adetail view of the coln controlled actuating device showing thepositions assumed when there is a live cent coin in the chute; Fig. 4 isa similar view showing the positions assumed when there 1s a ten centcoin in the chute; Fig. 5 is a sectlon taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a sectiontaken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2; and 1g. 8 is a. section taken on theline 8-8 of Fig, 2; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of the articleejector.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same in connection wit-h a machine designed primarily forvending metal checks such as are used in the operation of coincontrolled telephones. It will be understood, however, that thisparticular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustrationonly and that the' apparatus may take various forms and may be used foi*various purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that formv of the invention here illustrated the apparatus comprisesa main frame l0 mounted on a base Il1 and having at its upper end atransverse top member 12 which constitutes a supporting plate for thereceptacles or magazines which contain the articles to be vended. In thepresent machine `there are three magazines, 13, 14 and 15. The

supporting plate 12 has a discharge opening 16 adjacent to each magazineand the several discharge openings communicate with al common'deliverychute 17. The mechanism for ejecting the articles or checks from themagazines comprises an ejector arranged to enter the lower portion ofone of the magazines and discharge the lowermost coin therefrom. As hasbeen stated, the present machine is designed primarily forvendingtelephone lchecks each of which has a value of five cents. Themachine lis constructed to deliver to the customer either one check uponthe payment of five cents or two checks upon thelpayment of ten centsand in order to accomplish this the three-magazines are provided and oneof these magazines, 13, has an individual ejector, which, will eject onecoin from that magazine upon each operation thereof. The othermagazines, 14 and 15, are provided with a double ejector adapted tosimultaneously eject the lowermost coin from each of said magazines.Obviously if the articles to be vended were of different values each ofthe magazines might be provided with an individual ejector. The singleejector for the magazine 13 is shown at 18 and the double ejector forthe magazines 14 and 15 is shownk at 19. Each ejector is in the form'ofa plate slidably mounted in a guideway between the supporting late 12and the bottom of the magazine. ecured to each ejector is a lug 20Awhich depends therefrom through a slot 21 in the supporting plate 12and serves both to chute 32 which opens through the front wallV impartmovement to the ejector and to guide the same. As here shown, each lug2() comprises parallel ears between which is arranged a stud 22,preferably in the form of a roller, which is engaged by the slotted endof a rock arm 23. The rock arm 23 for the double ejector 19 is rigidlysecured to a shaft 24 which is journaled in the side members of the mainframe, and the rock arm for the single ejector 28 is rigidly secured toa tubular shaft or sleeve 25 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 24. Eachof the shafts has a rearwardly extending crank arm 26 which is actedupon by a spring 27 to retain the ejector normally in its retractedposition. The telescoping shafts 24 and 25 project beyond one sidemember of the main frame and have rigidly secured thereto, respectively,arms 28 and 29 each of which is provided at its lower end with a Contactportion here shown as laterally eX- tending lugs 30 and 31,respectively. The arm 29, which is connected with the tubular shaft ofthe-single eject-or 18, is of a length somewhat greater than the lengthof the arm 28 of the shaft 24 of the double ejector and the lug 31 ofthe arm 29 is of such a length that it will lie directly beneath the lug30 of the arm 28. Both lugs are preferably provided in their forwardedges with V-shaped recesses. The machine is provided with a single coinof the casing and the lower end of which is closed or obstructed by alaterally extending lip or detent 33 which is carried by a movablestructure 34 which, in the present instance, is

l portion of the structure and the detent 33 toward the coin chute andto retain the detent normally in a position to prevent the escape of acoin from the chute. This coin chute is'adapted to receive coins ofditferent denominations and, in the present machine, it will receiveeither a tive cent coin or a ten cent coin` Means are provided forselecting and operating one or the other of the ejector arms 28 and 29according to the value of the coin in the chute. As here shown, thismeans comprises an actuating member 38, which may be in the form of anelongated plunger, preferably tapered toward one end andhavmg its smallend adapted to enter the recess in the contact portion of either of theejector arms. The actuating member 38 is pivotally i mounted on theupper end of an upright support or lever 39 the lower end of which ispivoted on the main frame at 40. The actuating arm is therefore capableof pivotal movement to move the end thereof into line with the contactportion of the selected ejector arm and is longitudinally movable, bythe swinging movement of the support 39, to engage and actuate theselected ejector arm. Swinging movement may be imparted to the support39 in any suitable manner. In the present instance, thc` support isprovided with a longitudinal slot 41 to receive a stud 42 carried by anoperating device or key bar 43, slidably mounted on the main frame ofthemachine and inclined downwardly and rearwardly with relation to thesupport 39. rl`he key bar may be mounted in any suitable manner, as byproviding the same with longitudinal slots 44 to receive studs 45 fixedin thc. main frame At its outer end it is provided with a linger pieceor key 46 for depressing the same. A spring 47, connected at its lowerend with the key bar and at its upper end with the main frame, serves toretract the key bar and hold the same normally in its retractedposition. device may be provided to make it necessary to complete themovement of the key bar in the direction in which it has been startedbefore that movement may be reversed and, in the present construction Ihave shown a spring held pawl 48 arranged to engage ratchet teeth 49 onthe lower edge of the key bar and lock the key bar against returnmovement until the rack has been moved past the pawl to permit thelatter to reverse itself.

The actuating member 38 is supported normally in a. position out of linewith the Contact portions of both ejector arms but the supporting meansis of such a character that the actuating member may, under the controlof the coin in the chute, be moved into line with the Contact portion ofeither ejector arm. In that form of the mechanism here shown the supportfor the actuating member is in the form of a guide pin 50 carried by thedownturned end of a substantially horizontal lever or rack arm 51 whichis pivotally mounted at its opposite end on a stud 52 carried by themain frame. Rigidly connected with the arm 51 is a downwardly extendingarm 53 having its lower portion arranged to be engaged by a coin in thecoin chute. Preferably the arm 53 has its lower portion offset, as shownat 54, so that it may enter a slot 55 in the front wall of the coinchute. A spring 56 acts on the arm 53 to hold the offset portion orprojection 55 normally in the slot where it may be engaged by the edgeof a coin supported within the chute. Arranged on the opposite side ofthe coin chute is a coin actuating device here shown in the form of anarm 57 pivotally mounted on the main frame at 58 and extending upwardlyand forwardly so that its upper portion may have approximatelyhorizontal movement in a slot 59 in the rear Wall of the coin chute,thus enabling the coin actuatl If desired, a full stroke parted' to thearm 53 will depend upon the diameter or value of the coin, it beingobvious that a five cent coin or nickel will move the arm a greaterdistance than it Will be moved by a ten cent coin or dime. Rigidlyconnected with the coin actuating arm 57 is va crank arm 60 having astud 61 adapted to ride upon a cam surface 62 on the key bar 43. Aspring 63 acts on the coin actuating arm 57 to hold the stud 61 incontact with the cam. The cam is so shaped that the initial move- Y mentof the key bar will cause the coin actuating arm to enter the chute andif there is a coin in the chute to press that coin against the arm 53 ofthe controlling device, thereby lowering the supporting guide 50 for theactuating member and permitting that member to move downwardly into linewith one or the other of the ejector arms, as determined by the diameterof the coin. The actuating member is held in contact with and caused tofollow the movement of thesupporting guide 50 by a spring'64 whichconnects the same with the support 39. At the same time that theactuating member is being pivotally adjusted in the manner abovedescribed longitudinal or operative movement is being imparted theretobut the distance which the actuating member must travel before itengages either of the ejector arms is suicient to permit the pivotaladjustment of the actuating member -to be completed before it reachestheejector arms.

It will be noted that the contact faces of the coin actuating arm 57 andof the controlling arm 53 are so arranged that when in cont-act with acoin they will diverge downwardly,

thus facilitating the escape of the coin when the detent 33 isWithdrawn. However, I prefer to positively release the coin and to thisend I have provided the actuating member 38 on its lower edge with a camsurface which is so arranged that it will engage the guide pin 50, afterthe actuating member has engaged the contact portion of one of theejector arms, and will rock the controlling device 51-53 about its axisso as to move the part 54 of the arm 53 out of contact with the coin,thus releasing the same and preventing any possibilit-y of its hangingin thechute after the detent has been withdrawn.

The checks vended by this machine are approximately the size. of a dimeand have formed therein a central opening to accommodate the same to thecontrolling mechanism for the telephone. To prevent one of these checksbeing deposited in the coin chute and used in place of a dime to causethe machine to discharge two other checks I have provided a mechanismwhich will prevent the operation of the ejecting mechanism when such acheck, or other apertured device, is

deposited in the coin chute. For this purpose the supporting structure34, which carries the detent 33 at the lower end of the chute, hasmounted thereon a projection or pin 66 adapted to be projected throughan opening 67 in the side wall of the chute by the inward movement ofthe structure 44. An arm 68 which extends upwardly from the structure 34carries a pin or stud 69 which is so -arranged that when the structure34 is in its normal position the pin 69 will be in a position in whichit will not interfere with the pivotal movement of the actuating member.The structure is retained in its normal position by a cani 70 projectinglaterally from the key bar 43 and adapted to engage ar projection orrolle-r 7l' carried by the structure 34. The. lower end of this cam 70is of such a Width that it Will support the structure 34 in its normalposition, that is, with the dctent or lip 33 in an operative positionbeneath the coin chute and with the projection 66 withdrawn from thechute. The intermediate portion of the cam, which is shown at 72 is ofless Width than the lower portion thereof and the lower portion is ofsuch length that the initial movement of the key bar 43 will cause theintermediate portion to pass into .engagement with the roller 7l of thcstructure 34. thus releasing that struct-nre for inward movement. It'there is a coin in the. chute 3Q the projection 66 will engage the faceof that coin and will prevent thc structure 34 from moving inwardly farenough to carry thc pin 69 on the arm 68 into thc path of the pivotalmovement of the actuating member 38, thus leaving that member free tofollow the movement of the guide pin 50. If there is a check within thecoin slot, or a washer Acontacts with the'roller 7l on the structure 34that structure is moved downwardly far enough to Withdraw the projection66 from the coin chute. and to'withdraw the detent 33 from beneath thechute, thus opening the chute and permitting the coin therein to dropinto the coin box 74. rlhe projection 66 on the structure 34 ispivotally mounted, as shown at 75, to prevent,interference with themovement of a coin with which it is in contact, and it is held normallyina central position b v the spring 76 and a stop 7T.

The delivery chute 17 extends from the discharge openings 16 for themagazines downwardly and forwardly and at its lower end opens into adelivery receptacle 7 8. This delivery receptacle has in its front wallan opening 79, through which the check or otlier article may be removed,and its bottom wall 80 slopes downwardly and rearwardly from thatopening. The lower wall ot the chute 17 projects forwardly a slightdistance beyond the rear wall ot the delivery receptacle, as shown at8l, andthe upperwall ofthe chute is curved downwardly and rearwardly, asshown at 82, and terminates at a point in line `with but spaced from thefront edge ot the lower wall of' the chute. `As a result when a checkslides down the chute 17 and ott' the lower end thereot it will engagethe downwardly and 'rearwardly extending front end of the upper wallot the chute and will he deliected downwardly against the rear wall ot'the delivery receptacle, which in turn will deflect it against theinclined bottom wall S0, the. angle ot' contact with the inclined bottomwallobeing such that it will bounce upwardly and rearwardly and thendrop back into the delivery receptacle. In this way I prevent the checksfrom bouncing out ot the delivery receptacle and overcome a very conunonsource ot' annoyance in machines ot this kind.

Ihile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereot as various modifications mav occur to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a coin controlled apparatus having a plurality of parts to beoperated, an actuating member to actuate a selected onel of said partsto be actuated, a coin .controlled device to position said actuatingmember in operative relation to one ot said parts to be operated` andmeans for imparting operative movement to said actuating member.

In a coin controlled apparatus havingl a plurality ol parts to he ope`ated` an actuating member to actuate a selecta-ld one of said parts tobe actuated, an adjustable guide to control the position of saidactuating member with relation to said parts to be operated, coincontrolled means to adjust said guide, and means for imparting operativemovement to said actuating member.

3. In av coin controlledv apparatus comprisving a plurality of parts tobe operated, each having a contact portion, an actuating member mountedtor transverse movement into line with the contact. portion of aselected part to be operated and for longitudinal movement to actuatethe selected part to be operated, a coin controlled device to controlthe transverse movement ot said actuating member, and means forimparting longitudinal movement to said actuating member.

4. In a coin controlled apparatus having a plurality of parts to beoperated, each having a contact portion, an actuating member, a

movable support on which said actuating member is pivotally mounted formovement into line with the contact portion ot a selected part to beoperated, coin controlled means to-control the pivotal movement of saidactuating member, and means for actuating said support to impartoperative movement to said actuating member.

'5. In a coin controlled apparatus having a plurality of parts to beoperated, each having a contact portion, an actuating member, a movablesupport on which said actuating member is pivotally mounted tor movementinto line with the Contact portion of a selected part to be operated, anadjustable guide to control the pivotal movement ot' said actuatingmember, coin controlled means to adjust said guide, and means toractuating said support to impart operative movement to said actuatingmember. I 6. In acoin controlled apparatus comprismg a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, each having a contact portion. anactuating member mounted for transverse movement into operative relationto the contact portion of a selected part to be operated and Jforlongitudinal movement to actuate said selected part, an adjustabledevice to control the transverse movement of said act-uating member andhaving a part arranged to be engaged by a coin in said chute, a seconddevice to cause said coin to impart movement to said controlling deviceproportionate to the, diameter of said coin, and means to actuate thelast mentioned device and to impart longitudinal movement to saidactuating member. l

7. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, each having a contact portion, anactuating member mounted for transverse movement into operative relationto the contact portion of a selected part to be'operated and torlongitudinal movement to actuate said selected part, an adjustabledevice to control the transverse movement to said actuating member andhaving a part arranged to be engaged by a coin in said chute, a seconddevice to cause said coin to impart movement to said coin controllingdevice proportionate to the diameter of said coin, and a reciprocatoryoperating member having means to actuate the last mentioned device andto impart longitudinal movement to said actuating member.

8. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, each having a contact portion, anactuating member mounted for transverse movement into operative relationto the contact portion of a selected part to be operated and forlongitudinal movement to actuate said selected part, an adjustabledevice to coniii) `trol the transverse movement ofY said actuatvice tocause said coin to impart movement.

to said coin controlling device proportionate to the diameter of saidcoin, means to actuate theA last mentioned device andv to impart1ongitudinal movement to said actuating member, and means to actuatesaid controlling device to release the coin after said actuating memberhas engaged the contact portion of the selected part to be operated.

9. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute' and a.plurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member, a mvable supporton which said actuating member is pivotally mounted for movement intooperative relation to a selected part to be operated, a pivoted armhaving at its free end a part to control the pivotal movement of saidactuating member, a second arm connected with said controlling arm andhaving a part positioned at one edge of said chute to be engaged .by acoin in said chute, a movable device having a part to enter said chuteand cause said coin to engage said second arm and move the firstmentioned arm a distance proportionate to the diameter of said coin, andan operating device having means to actuate said movable device and tocause said movable support to impart operative movement to saidactuating member.

10. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member, a movablesupport on Which said actuating member is pivotally mounted for movementinto operative relation to a selected part to be operated,

a pivoted arm having at its free end a part to control the pivotalmovement of said actuating member, a second arm connected with saidcont-rolling arm and having a part positioned at one-edge of said chuteto be engaged by a coin in said chute a movable device having a part toenter said chute and cause said coin to engage said second arm and movethe irst mentioned arm a distance proportionate to the diameter of saidcoin, an operating device having means to actuate said movable deviceand to cause said movable support to impart operative movement to saidactuating member, and means carried by said actuating member to impartoutward movement to said second arm after said actuating member hasengaged a selected part to b e operated.

1l. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member to impartmovement to a selected part to be operated, means controlled-by a coinin said chute to control-the position of said actuating member withrelation to -said parts to be operated, means to impart operative.,movement to said actuating member, an l.auxiliary device to retain saidactuating member in an inoperative position with relation to said partsto be operated, and means controlled b a coin in said chute to-hold saidauxiliary evice in an inoperative position with relation to saidactuating device.

12. Ina coin controlled apparatus comprising `a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member to impartmovement to a selected part to be operated, a guide to retain saidactuating'member normally in an inoperative position with relation tosaid parts to be operated, means controlled by a coin in said chute foradjusting .said guide to position said actuating member in operativerelation to a selected part to be operated, means to impart operativemovement to said actuating member, an auxiliary device movable into aposition to retain said actuating member in its inop-l erative position,and means controlled by a coin in said chute to prevent the movement ofsaid auxiliary device to said position.

13. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated; an actuating member to impartmovement to a selected part to be operated, a guide to retain saidactuating member normally in an inoperative position with relation tosaid parts to be operated, means controlled by a coin in said chute foradjusting said guide to position said actuating member in operativerelation to a. selected part to be operated, means to impart operativemovement to said actuating member, an auxiliary'device movable into aposition to retain said actuating member in its inoperative position,means controlled by the operating means for said actuating member tonormally hold said auxiliary device out of said retaining position andto release the same during the initial movement of said operating means,and means controlled by a coin in said chute to prevent the movement ofsaid auxiliary means to said retaining position after it has beenreleased.

14. In acoin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member to impartmovement to a selected part to be operated, a guide to retain saidactuating member normally in an inoperative position with relation tosaid parts to be operated. means controlled by a coin in said chut-e foradjusting said guide to position said .actuating member in operativerelation to a selected part to be operated, means to impart operativemovement to said actuating member, a structure mounted for movementtoward-and from said coin chute, yieldable` means to move said structuretoward said coin chute, projection carried b v said .structure andadapted to enter said coin chute when its movement is not obstructed bya coin, anda stud carried by said structure and so arranged that whensaid projection' enters said coin chute said stud will be moved to aposilion to retain said actuating member in its inoperative. position.

15.4 In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality ot' parts to be operated, an actuating member toimpart'mmement to a selected part to be operated, a guide to retain saidactuating member normally in an inoperative position with relation tosaid parts to be operated, means Controlled by a coin in said chute foradjusting said guide to position said actuating member in operativerelation to a selected part to be operated, means to impart operativemovement to said actuating member, a structure mountedfor movementtowardand from said coin chuteyieldable mears to move said structure towardsaid coin chute, a projection carried by said structure and adapted toenter said coin chute when its movement is not obstructed by a coin, astud carried by said structure and so arranged that when said projectionenters said coin chute said stud will be moved to a position to ret-ainsaid actuating member in its operative position, and means controlled bythe operating means for said actuating member to move said structurefrom said coin chute.

1G. In a coin controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute and aplurality of parts to be operated, an actuating member to impartmovement to a selected part to be operated, a guide to retain saidactuating member normally in an inoperative position with relation tolsaid parts to be operated, means controlled by a coin in said chute foradjusting said guide to position said actuating member in operativerelation to a selected part to be operated, means to impart operativemovement to said actuating member, a structure mounted Jfor movementtoward and from said coin chute, yieldable means to move said structuretoward said coin chute, a projection carried by said structure andadapted to enter said coin chute when its movement is not obstructed 'bya coin. a stud carried by said structure and so arranged that When saidprojection enters said coin chute said stud will be moved to a positionto retain said actuating member in its operative position, saidproject-ion being pivotally mounted to permitmovement ot' a. coin withwhich it is in contact.

17. In al coin controlledapparatus comprising a` coin chute and a.plurality of parts to be operated, a n actuating member, a movablesupport on which said actuating member is pivotally mounted for movementinto operative relation to a selected part to be operated, a pivoted armhaving atv its free end a part to control the pivotal movement of saidact-uating member, a second arm connected with said controlling arm andhaving a part positioned at one edge of said chute to beengaged by acoin in said chute, a movable device having a part to enter said chuteand cause said coin to engage said second arm and move the firstmentioned arm a distance. proportionate to the diameter of said coin, astructure mounted for movement toward and from said coin chute,yieldable means to move said structure toward said coin chute, aprojection carried by said structure and adapted to enter said coinchute When its movement is not obstructed by a coin, a stud carried bysaid structure and so arranged that when said projection enters saidcoin chute said stud will be moved to a position to retain saidactuating member in its inoperative position, an operating device toactuate said support and impart operative movement to said .actuatingmember, cam means connected with hereto.

ABRAM L. ZENT.

